The Sun. — London, England, 1864-05-27 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL BANK. 'lead Office, 13, Old Broad-street, London, E.C. Established 1535. Capital suliscribed,L ?,000,000; paid up, £700,000, Reserved Fund. £629,174, DIRECTORS Jones Allan, Esq. George Ashlin, Esq. Jeremiah Dunn, E, q. B. H. Hartley, Esq. F. B. Henshaw, Esq. Sir Ralph Howard, Bart. Thomas W. Kough, Esq. Hervey Lewis, Esq., M.P. Joseph N, M`Kenns, Esq. John 0' %lean, Esq. Albert &card% Esq. Rowland Roland, Esq. J. Bogle Saith, Esq. Edmund Su:li hwick, Esq M. Usbo7 Er- ,sborne, A,sq. Philip Vatclerbyl, Esq. ABRIDGED REPORT FOR THE YEAR 15G3 The Directors of the National Bank have much pleasure in presenting to the Proprietors the Twenty-tainth Annual .port of the state of the Society, made up t 3 the close of 1863. 'rho following accounts in the usual form exhibit the state of the Company's affitirs at that date. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. ASSETS, Gold and silver coin in Ireland -C61,266 3 6 Cash on hand at the Bank of England, advances on bullion, and at call 824,106 6 9 Government Foods, Exchequer Bills, Exchequer Bonds, and Debentures 389,589 3 6' Advances on government stock and sundry secured loans at short dates and current accounts 1.026,932 0 1 Bills discounted B•ink premises, Londcn, Dublin, and branches ..... 55,150 0 0 80,000 0 0 £6,092,787 19 0 LIABILITIES. Paid up capital Notes in circulation Due by the bank ou deposit receipts, cur rent accounts, &c~ Rest or undivided profits .............. 169,174 16 10 £6,092,787 19 0 PROrIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT. , Rest or undivided profi ts at December, £143 729 3 10 1862, Net orofit for the year, 1863, after writing off all bad and providing for doubtful debts ....£125,145 13 0 Less rebate of interest on bills not due .. 19,700 0 0 £249,174 16 1,5 From which hive been paid : Feb., 1863. Half a year's dividend, at 8 per cent. per annum £24,000 With extra dividend of 16s. per share 16,000 —X4O,COO Aug., 1863. Half a year's dividend, at 8 per cent, per annum.. With extra dividend of 163. per Allan; 4!:`,000 Leaving at December, 1863, a rest, or ------ amount of undivided profits of Examined and found correct, J. N. McKENNA. RO AND RONALD. J. B. SMITH. JOHN 0' MEA.RA. T. W. KOUGH. Since these accounts were made up a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum on the capital of the Bank, and an extra dividend of 16s, per share were paid in February last ; the amount of undivided profits after these payments, therefore, stood at £1'29,171 16s. 10d., as compared with £lO3 729 3s. 101 , the figures at which they stood last year, after payment of the February dividend. Shortly after the opening or the present year the directors determined to increase the capital of the Bank from £1,000,000 to £2,000,000 by the issue of 20,000 new shares at a premium of £25 per share, when taken up by the old shareholders in the proportion of one new for every one old shate, and a premium of £3O per share when taken up by other parties ; the difference of £.3 per share being relin quished by the Bank in favour of the holders of old shares who declined to take up the new. The entire of the new shares have been allotted among the proprietors, customers, and connexions of the tank. This operation adds £500,000 to the Reserve Fund of the Bank, which previously stood at £ t 29,174 163. 10d., after payment of the last February dividend. A first instalment of £5 per share capital has been paid on the 20,000 new shares, and when the new shares snail to paid up to the same amount as the old, viz., £39 per share, the paid-up capital will stand at £1,200,000, in acdi tiort to which the Reserve Fund will stand at upwards of £600,000. It is not a portion of the formal business of the Annual Meeting to discuss the transactions of the current 3 ear, but the Directors feet justified, from the precedent of their last report, in stating that the prospects so far of the Bank's profits for 1864 are still more in advance of the profits of 1833 than those of 1863 exceeded the realisation of 1862. The Directors, encouraged by the success which has at tended the opening of their Bayswater Branch, have opened two new metropolitan branches—one at Charing cross, and another at Camden-town, which even at this early stage gives satisfactory evidence of progress. The Directors have had under their consideration a pro position for altering the day of the annual general meeting to the first week day in February, from the fourth Tuesday in May, as it stands at present. They have also considered *he subject of furnishing half-yearly reports, as the other London banks do, and both of these suggestions the three tors will recommend for the sanction of the Proprietors at two sp<:cial general meetings, which will have to be sum :non:A for that purpose at convenient dates. Approved by the Court, JEREMIAH I)I7NNE, Chairman. M. J. POWER, Secretary. May, 1804 • ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, Covent-Rsrden. From this time until the end of the season th.lre will be four Opera nights in each week, viz.. every Monday. T—Asday. Thursday, and atbirday. Next week there will be five nights. Mdlle. Adelina Patti ; Signor It nconi ; Signor Scalese, and Signor Mario. TO-MORROW EVE NI L\ G (Saturday), May 23, will be per formed Rossini's Opera, IL BA ct MERE 1)1 S VItiLIA. Rosins, Mdile. Adelina Patti; Bertha, Madame Tagiialco ; Figaro, zignor Honconi ; Bartolo, Signor calese, h;s fi at appearance in England; Basilio, z"ignor Tagliafico ; Vorello, Signor Polonini ; Sargente, Signor Rossi ; and Almaviva, Signor Mario, Conductor, Mr. Costa. Commence at half past Eight. Pit tickets, 7s. ; amphitheatre eta Is, 108. 6d., 75., and ss. mphitheatre. 25. 6d. Boxes, stalls, and tickets may be had ithe box-0Mo! under the portico of the thew re, which is pen from ten to five, and ac the principal musicsellers' and librarians'. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.— Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE BALANCE OF COMFORT. Mr. Howe and Miss L. Angel. Atter which, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Sothern, Chippendale, Buckstone, Rogers, Clark, IV eathersby, &c. ; Mead4nies Snowden, Nelly Moore, Fitzwillism. After which, the new Easter piece, entitled VENUS AND ADONIS. Messrs. Compton, Wm. learren, Coe. &c. ; Mes dames Louise Keeley, Snowden, Nellyiower, Hill, Wright, Rogers, &c. To conclude with MRS. WHITE. r. Compton. Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Feebler. Mr. F ECHTER will perform ITAMLE I' THIS EVENING (FRIDAY). Claudius, Mr. Emery ; Polonius, Mr. John B rom2 ham ; Ghost, Mr. G. J or d an; L aer t es , Mr. C. Vanden h ff ; Horatio, Mr. J. G. Shore ; First Gravedigger, Mr. H. Widdicomb ; Osric, Mr. F. Charles ; Messrs. IV M'lntyre, F. Morton, Raymond, Moreland, Cliff or d , Ed mon ds, Wa 11- bank Collett ; Ophelia, Miss Kate T erry ; A ctress , rhiss M. Heni ' ade ; and Gertru le, Miss Elsworthy. The Scenery painted by Mr. W. Telbin. Notice.—The doors open at half•past 7, and Hamlet com mences at 8. Box Office open daily from Eleven o'clock till Five. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE._ Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. TUB EVENING, 'THE OLD STORY. Mr. Dominick Murray. Atter which, THE CORSICAN R B OTHERS. Lou an d Fabien del Franchi, Mr. Vining Chateau Renaud, Mr. Walter Lacy. T o conclude with BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Paddy O'Raffer,y, Mr. Dominick Murray. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHL-"" mole Propri.tor and Manazer. D 47. B. Webster. Last Week but two of the treat Tragediene' Miss Bateman, in the character of LEAH. THIS EV ENING ,an apropos Sketch, SHAKESPEARE'S ROUSE: Messrs. J. L. Toole, K. Phillip s , S tep h enson. Af er which, at 8, L EA H: Miss Batem an , supporte d by Messrs. A. Stirling, K. Phillips, Biiiingum, Stuart, Eburne, Stephenson; airs. BLlington. To elßclude with T fIE AREA BELLE: Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedtord, K. homer, Miss Woolg - ar, end Mrs. H. Lewis. Commence at 7. 3/lISS BATEMAN.-L EA H.-THf, EVENING and EVERY EVENING —Miss Bateman Wili appear in her great impersonatioq of the Jewish ma den until further notice. In order ,o give due . effect to this most remarkable suc3es 4 of the se .son, eakire.y new setnery by the celebrated arists Messrs. Dans on and :..ons, and Thompson. New dr, sfhs and appo ntni,,nts have be, n prepare; tor its productior..—N.H. In consequence of the 77 8 , si ng and numerous bpplications at the liox-offi:e, ar -7„ernent, have row been made by which Seats m , y 13,1 ob ta ned a Fortnight in Aavan e. OYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the _, • Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Crowded with rank and fashion.— The highly successful new Ccratdy, by Di..n Boucicault ,Esq., every Evening'. Re_ engagement of the ce ebrated and popular artistes, Mr. an > Mrs. Charles MathZlw7,. Amongst the artists enz,arr e d will be found the ropular n , rnes of Mr. Beojarain WeQer, 111 i Charles Mathews. Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. J. L. Toole r. , . Clarke, Mr. l'4ul Bcdtord, Mr. F. .iobinson, Mr. Ast.le Mi s s II rbcrt, Mrs Frank 3la 1 UdeNW)ars;SlBB. Chas. Mathews, A. Cottrell, Miss Funny Josephs, 311 83 li . ''lmins, _ewe, n. Patti Josepiis, Miss Weatworta, and Mrs. StirAing - . EVERY EVENING, at 7, A DAY AFTER THE WE uDING. Miss Herbert. At a quarter before a, an entirely new and original Come In 5 acts, by Dion Bouci caulr, entitled TUN FOx CR -- A - 4 * chiracters by 31r. Charles Mathews, Mr. Frank atthe—: Mr. J. Clarke„ 11r. F. Robinson, Mr. Ash ey, .3lr. ly —.CliarriZr laine; Mrs. Chas. Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, and Mies Henrietta Simms (her first appearance here). At 10, OUT OF SIiiIIT OUT OF MIND. Mr. Charles Mathews and Mr. Frank m atthews. To conclude with SHAKE HANDS : Mr. J. Clarke ; mi ss Fanny Josephs. Commence at 7. ----- ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. 11. Swanborough• , THIS EVENING, TURN 11131 OUT• Followed by THE MAID OF HONOUR. Miss Ada Swanborough. Atter which, MAZOURKA . Messrs. Honey, Jam" , Fenton, Turner, &c. ; Marie Wilton, binipson, &c. To conclude with TIMOTHY TO TilE lIES CUE. Mr. T. Thorne. Commence at '. COALS. —The LILLESHAL L COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries, Marquis' 24s. per ton. I Double 20s. per ton. Top 23a. „ Nut 5........ 18s. „ Deep ....215. „ Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, IT., and 17, South Wharf, Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent. 111 HE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, Jan be had Every Evening of G. GLhNIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4. Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. The Weather—Sun Office, May 27, 1864. _ - TIIERNIOMETER. This day at Two o'clock 63 Barometer-29.92. Wind—N.W.; moderate breeze, and fine. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Cris DAY.—Morning, 6h. In.—Aftemoon, 6h. 30m. 0-moratow.-Morning, 6h. 58m.—Afternoon, 7h. 20m. ljg LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1864. Every additional scrap of intelligence from that blood-stained, corpse-littered, slaughter-ground, the seat-of-war in Virginia, more and more clearly realises to our apprehension the reality of the fact which from the first was sufficiently apparent, namely, that the advantages throughout have been upon the aide of the Confederates. With all our at first extorted, bat long since unstinted and earnest admiration for the heroism of the South, and for the consummate generalship of their illustrious Ccim- mander-in-Chief General LEE—the one Great Captain barn of the War—the marvel is that it should still continue to be so. The wonder is that the advantages should yet remain upon the side of the Confederates. Remember, merely, the dispropor Lion there still is—as there has been from the very first—between the aggregate numerical strength of the two contending Powers ! It il a struggle not between equals, not between six and half-a-dozen. The disproportion we are referring to is not as of two to one. Whereas the Federals are some 20,000,000, the Confederates are no more than 6,000,000 ! Yet, still, within the can- ,ral States of what was once the Union— ;hat state of Virginia common to the cipitals alike of the North and of the South, of the Confederate Richmond and of the Federal Washington, great armies led respectively by the foremost soldier here of President ABRAHAM LINCOLN, there, of President JEFFZRSON DAVIS, are still, after four long and terrible years of civil conflict still con- tending ! They are still—those main armies of the North and of the South—still, after four years, contending, and contending more fiercely and more ferociously than ever, in a portion of that Wood satavated State of Virginia, situated behind the rival capitals—the capitals of the North and of the South, Richmond and Washington. Against the largest and the most highly-disciplined army the North has yet been able to bring together into the field, the army of the South has, during this present month, been holding its own manfully during the chief part of a fortnight of almost continuous fighting ! And that fighting more disastrous and destructive of its kind—considering first of all that it has been nearly, as one may say, a hand-to-hand encounter, not with artillery and long-distance rifles, but with sword, and pistol, and bayonet, and considering, in the second place, that it has been fightir g, persisted in by the belligerents day after day almost uninterruptedly—fighting, we say, more disastrous end more destructive than we have any equivalent record of even in the bloodiest pages of our European annals. In testi- mony of our accuracy in assenting to which it is only requisite, indeed, to recall to recollection the feet that after three days continuous fighting during these recent contests in Virginia, on one side alone, namely, on the side of the Federate (according to their own account) as many as 40,000 men were put hors de combat—the dead more over vastly outnumbering the wounded in this hideous aggregate of slaughter ! So piteous, so merciless, so literally to the death and to despera tion have been these hand to hand combats between North and Soutb, during this very month of May, upon that afflicted soil of Virginia! And now, the latest additional intelligence from these sanguinary battle fields,the supplementary intelligence brought to us this very afternoon by telegram, consequent upon the arrival of the Scotia with accounts from New York down to the morning of the 18th inst. ine.usively—more than simply confirms our first, our instant impression as to the successes being on the side of the Confederates. Even the rumoured retreat of General LEE from his new position, his more than ever formidable position at Spottsylvania Court House, appears never to have been thought of for a moment by the Southern Commander-in-Chief There, at Spottsyivania Court House, at these lines of the transatlantic Torres Vedras of the Confederate WELLINGTON, the Southern army maintained its ground when these last advices left, The position of LEE was not only at the Court-house, but north of it. There, at Spottsylvania, after all their ten Mc fighting, the opposing armies still, when the latest news left,continued doggedly to confront each other. Further military operations, it would seem, were alone interrupted by the casualty of the heavy rainfalls. But, satisfactory for the South, though these tidings up to the 12th inst. inclusively, were, from those heed -quarters of the belligerents north of the Court House of Spottsylvania—from other parts of the seat-of-war the accounts now brought to us by the Scotia are wonderfully favourable for the Confederates. From Drury's Bluff, for in stance, we learn that General Butler— the infamous General BUTLER—had been, not only attacked successfully by the Confederates, but had been compelled to retire to his lines after con siderable Joss. From Newmarket, again, we hear that the Federal Gener al SIGEL h ad, with a loss of five guns and of upwards of 600 me n , been so un mistakably defeated, that he had been driven to the necessity of retreating upon Strasburg, by crossing the Shenandoah. As more than a counterpoise to the tidings of General JOHNSTONE'S retreat towards Atlanta, hotly pursued, as the telegram intimates, by the Federate, there comes a fregenent of additional information as to the d:s plight in which Gen era l B A NKS still finds puted himself and the army entrusted to his guidance. A mere portion of this army, we are hero apprised, has been compelled to march overland to the Mississippi river—to what end ? To that end that speaks (how eloquently) of the momentous alternative of life or death—of" fighting its way out !" Such are the very last advices brought to us by steam and electricity from the scenes of that cruelly protracted civil war in America, that civil war of which it way be said that—however much longer it may be protracted — it can never, we may rest perfectly well satisfied, result in the subjugation of the haughty an d heroic spirit of the S out h even by the most stu p e ndous efforts that can be directed against the Confederates by the gigantic but hitherto impotent weulth, and Lumbers, and grimly desperation of the Federale. rtiE SUN, LOI‘DON, FiIIDAY EVENII\ G, MAY 27, 1864. The most significant item of intelligence brought to us by the Scotia is the fact that gold was at 183 when the mail left for Europe. The protracted litigation in the case of COE v. WISE, clerk to the Middle Level Drainage Com missioners, is destined to follow the course of.other causes celebres, and after passing through the inter mediate stages will eventually be settled in the House of Lords. It must be remembered by our readers that in May, 1862, the sluice of a recently made water course or cut employed to carry off the water from certain low lands near the mouth of the Ouse gave way—the tidal waters rushed up the cut, the embankment gave way, and some five thousand acres of land were submerged. A considerable time elapsed before the ingress of the water could be checked and the land again reclaimed ; this, how ever, was at length effected. The small proprietors, whose all had,in many oases, been destroyed, turned for redress and compensation to the commissioners, whose duty it was to see that the embankments and sluices of the dykes were kept in proper repair, and who were empowered by act of Parliament to levy rates for that purpose. The commissioners, how ever, denied their liability, and the present action is only one of many, but upon the ultimate decision in this one case all others of a similar nature depend ; and altogether the amount of compensation claimed in this individual instance is but small—the sum in reality at stake is, we believe, upwards of £60,000. The case for the plaintiff was rested on the alleged negligence of the commissioners, servants, engineers, and contractors, both in the original construction of the works and in their subsequent maintenance, and especially the case rested on the alleged neglect of the contractors to puddle the bank, and the neglect of the resident engineer to observe and attend to the first symptoms of danger. It was tried last year at the Spring Assizes before Lord Chief Justice ERLE, when a verdict for the plaintiff was obtained, and the present appeal was made against that verdict by the defendants, on the ground that being public functionaries, acting gratuitously for the public, they could not be held liable for aay loss sustained by the plaintiff. Last Tuesday, in the Court of Queen's Bench, the Court decided the matter in favour of the com missioners, and the plaintiff will therefore carry it to the House of Lords. The decision was, however, not unanimous, the Lora Chief Justice and Mr. Justice MELLOR being in favour of the commissioners, while Mr. Justice BLACKBURN considered that the rule obtained to set aside the verdict for the plaintiff should be dis charged. It is a case of considerable importance, and the result, whatever it may be, will effect a large portion of the community. For our part, we cannot see on what grounds the commissioners can reasonably claim immunity from the responsibilities of an office, the holding of which is not compulsory, but which is undertaken f)r their own advantage. The commissioners are all landed proprietors in the district benefited by the Middle Level Drainage they had undertaken to carry out, or cause to be carried cut. It was provided by the Act that owners of 200 acres of land liable to be taxed under it might appoint a commissioaer, and that the oommiseioners appointed under that and the pre. vious Acts, which were not repealed, should form the Middle Level Drainage Commissioners. It was provided that the banks, sluices, and other works should be vested in the commissioners, anti it was expressly enacted that they should make and maintain the new cut and sluice. They ful filled this undertaking in the usual way, by em ploying engineers to prepare plans, and contractors to construct the works; and it is not denied that the plans and specifications comprised puddle, and all that we s requisite for the construction of works required by the Act. The new cut was made, with the banks and sluice, and had been in existence about twelve years at the time of the inundation, having been completed in 1848. Now the question may very naturally be asked,—What is the use of appointing commissioners to take charge of works of great importance, upon whose good construction and Efficiency the safety of a vast amount of pro perty and even of human life depends, if they may neglect the duties which they have undertaken with impunity ? We do not for a moment attri bute wilful neglect to the commissioners; but, from the evidence adduced at the time of the catastrophe, it is perfectly certain that there was negligence, and that proper means were not taken to prevent accidents when the sluice and the adjacent banks were found to be in an unsafe state. In the trial before Lord Chief Justice EItLE, the jury did not find that the banks and sluice had been badly constructed, as stated• by the plain tiff, but they did find that after their construction they had not been kept in a proper state of repair. Mr. Justice BLACKBURN, in giving his view of the case last Tuesday, very properly observed that the Drainage Commissioners, from the nature of their body, could not maintain the sluice except through the agency of others, surveyors, engineers, and other agents acting far them; and while it was argued, on behalf of the defendants, that the finding of the jury must be understood to mean that the defendants had negligently chosen in competent persons, he accepted it only as a find ing that the sluice might, with due care and skill, have been maintained, and that due care and skill were not applied to maintain it. The Drainage Commissioners, as Mr. JusticeßaeceisuuN showed, are not held responsible for the negligence of their servants, on which ground they might claim ex emption on the plea that persons entrusted with the performance of a public duty, which they dis charge gratuitously, are exempted from liability for the negligent acts of those employed by them ; but they are " not sought to be charged for the collateral negligence of their servants, but for the non-fulfilment of a duty wnich was, it is alleged, imposed by ;Act of Parliament on the Drainage Commissioners themselves." The fact of the mat ter is that a false economy was the root of the evil. The expense of keeping the embankment and sluice in a state of repair was defrayed by local rates ; now the commissioners being, in most cases, large landed proprietors were directly or indirectly interested in keeping down the rates to e minimum, and the engineer who recommended the smallest outlay upon the works would naturally find most favour with the Commissioners. This does not apply particularly to the case of the Middle Level Commissioners,for it is the system pursued through out the entire ten dis!ric!s. It may be a very natural course to follow, but it is at the same time, a most unwise one. It is always hoped that the embaukments will not give way, and when they do so, every one exclaims, " Who would have thoughtt to it be" trliflVeadterwiistha,nasevtehre-acsatidn is notever-actingcalamityagent a and Sheffield can testify ; and it is solely by neglecting the necessary precautions that the Middle Level sluice and embankment gave way, and hundreds of industrious fannies were reduced to destitution. It would certainly be hard to compel a few indi viduals out of their private moans to reimburse the numerous sufferers by this calamity ; and although we consider the Commissioners to be legally liable to the injured parties, we are nevertheless of opinion that those who appointed them ought to pay th e expenses attendant on the misfortune which was occasioned by the negligence of those in their eer- vice. The owners of property in the district em braced in the confines of the Middle Level are numerous, and it would be only just to empower the Commissioners to levy a rate to liquidate their moral if not legal liabilities t, those who have suffered by this calamity. This would be a prac tical and reasonable way of settling the difficulty ; but if legal technicalities are to upset and pervert the obj'cts for which the C3mmission was appointed the sooner the whole system is altered the better. If the Commissioners aro not responsible for the negligence of their servants or the non-fulfilment of works which they had undertaken to execute, let the shadow of responsibility be removed from them to be replaced by the substance. The correspondence on the subject of the Con- 'ederate Steam Rams is very well worthy of atten- tion, and may serve to furnish topics of conversation and food for reflection. As usual, Earl RUSSELL appears to great disadvantage, and his attempts to get up a stock of virtuous indignation are signally 'utile. Lord LYONS was placed in an awkward position when he was directed to forward such a communication. A man of his spirit and sagacity must have felt that the message, or despatch, was quite unsuitable to the occasion, and aline unfitted to the country from whence it came and the State to which it was sent. He acquitted himself of this difficulty task in a very creditable.manner. The extracts taken from the despatch of Earl RUSSELL are most marked in their expression, and the general tone which prevails throughout his lordship's com munication is very adverse to those to whom it is addressed. It is quite unwarrantable for him to assume so much and to prove so little, to impute motives to others that are not founded on fact, and which rest only on the basis of his own imaginings, or the exaggerated statements of interested parties and unscrupulous informers. In the first place, he sets out by protesting against the practice of building war vessels in this country, which he says it is the habit of the Confederates to do. This !ormal. remonstrance comes ill from a Minister who has been aftlid to prove his words in a Court of law. The day after the communication is made public that was forwarded to President DANIS by our Foreign Secretary, the official decision of the Government is made known not to proceed with the case of tha Steam Rams. This is an untoward ncident, because it shows that we cannot make the allowance for the noble lord that he acted upon conviction. If he had been sure of his case he would never have given up at the eleventh hour, and withdrawn from the struggle before it had commenced in earrest, but when ad was ready and prepared. Such a climax is a very unpropitious one, and deep in the mind and long in the memory of the land will live this unpropitious conjuncture. The English are not at all a sentimental people, they will not rush to war for an idea, they do not like extremes in anything, but fiat contradiction in action and wards is rather too much for solid sense and straightforward feelings. As if injuries were not enough, the SOLON of the Foreign-office must add insults to them. He has the cool impertinence .o style his correspondents as the authorities o! ,he ;' so.called Confederate States." Such paltry subterfuge and mere spite is totally unbecoming the representative of the majesty of England in holding communication with a people whose courage and constancy have pined them the applause and admiration of all judges of spirited conduct in the Old and New World. Earl Rus SELL had better have taken a lesson from his col league the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who long ago had the wit to appreciate and the candour to avow the superiority of the claims of the Confede- rates. He said that 7:7F FaiSON Dallis had made the South a nation. It is not likely that Mr. GLADSTONE would risk his reputation by ignoring the influence of such actions, or the importance of such victories as those which have taken place in the struggle for independence now for a second time waged in the fields of America. Earl Reis- SELL applie3 himself to a very ungracious task in censuring the conduct of Vie Confederate States for building the rams, when all the time the case has not been proved, nor has the trial taken place. It seems as if, half ashamed of his perverse prejudice, he sought a decent excuse or a plausible pretext for his extreme measures and extraordinary conduct. After all, he falls back en the flimsy pretext of flattery, and expresses a hope that the "franknes s, courtesy, and discernment" of Mr. DAVIS will re cognise the necessity that exists for the measures he has adopted. Earl RUSSELL has often shown that he has no frankness or courtesy in the affairs of this long and arduous war, now he seems re solved to show that he is equally deficient in dis cernment. A ruler who would countenance pro ceedings such as have been attributed to the Confederates by their opponents would not possess any of the qualities so pretentiously cited. Ac cording to this despatch, the conflicting statements have been tried before a court from which there is no appeal, and that is the opinion of Earl RUSSELL and his coadjutors. A more insolent and overbear ing communication has seldom been sent from a ountry like this. Well does it deserve the signal setting-down which it receives from the man to whom it is addressed, and no one who has read the one can fail to appreciate the other. President DAVIS could not have been more happy in his reply to this absurd and insulting de s p atch. In every line of his bold and unfl inc hing stat ement he vindicates his right to his eminent position, and proves himself equal to the occasion , which is a great thing to achieve. 11Iany who can originate and send forth a fulminating decree, and enunciate a policy for themselves cannot always be up to the mark when called upon to make a retort. President DAVIS is great in reply, and b © comes out of the contest with flying colours. It is derogatory to the dignity of the Foreign Secret ar y to be told the truth so plainly to his face, and to be assured that he is assuming a position which he does not really possess, and cannot therefore claim the regard to which he considers himself entitled. Some of the retorts here met with are ca pital, and very fully reveal the state of the case. In the first place, we meet with a dignified repulse for the unwarrantable insolence which was displayed in Earl RUSSELL'S appellation of the "so-called Confederate States." This imeertinence is tru'Y characterised as a " studied insult ;" and, furthermore, it is averred that, if repeated, such documents will be returned unnoticed. The chief magistrate of mere that, twelve millions can well sp ook in this style, and it is only a proper retort watri he goes on to state e e gdom. As at present that the territory of theseroiilians is many times larger than the United IC constituted, our foreign policy s eems calculated t o do little else besides drawing down the scorn and ridicule of other States awl divers nations. Can anything be so silly, as well as so uncalled-for, a s the novel mode by which Earl RUSSELL seems to have essayed to extinguish the prestige of the Confederates, and to crush out their attempts at nationality ? No one likes to be ignored, and it is enough to irritate the most placid, and to excite the calmest, to witness such injustice as that which actuates the course pursued by eur Cabinet. Pre sident DAVIS speaks the sentiments of many not only in his own dominions , but on our sh ores, and the also throughout events an dou d th ie es s e o the vra in several States, who now study principles of the great American contest. He tells this overweening member of an exclusive and prejudicial Go vernment, that he does not fairly represent the spirit nor express the sentiments of the English nation. This is perfectly true, and it must be very annoying to be told so pub licly. However Eari RUSSELL has drawn down his condemnation on himself by his unparalleled impertinence, and the insufferable impartiality he has displayed throughout the whole period of this momentous struggle. If anything could add to these errors it would be the assurance of declaring that he is always actuated by the desire to preserve a strict neutrality. Such a state of things cannot be allowed to last for ever, and even now he is being told of his oonduct in a way and after a fashion that he cannot admire. The frank and independent style of the justly indignant protestation of President DAVIS must forcibly strike all who peruse his an swer, and stand out in bold relief from the mix ture of hesitating language and impudent assump tions that so especially distinguish Earl RUSSELL'S communication. President DAVIS has studied the history and tr:t.ditions of the Anglo-Saxon race to too much purpose to believe that insult and injustice form the component parts of any poliey that they may uphold. Circumstances put wrong people in wrong places, to the great detriment of their own reputation, the injury of those they profess to serve, and the disadvantage of all who are in any way connected with them in periods of trial and per- plenity. It will be well for all the parties concerned, in immediate or remote capacities, with its workings, when the Foreign Office has another Secretary of State. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LREIITER'S TELEGRAMS.] AMERICA. NEW YORK, MAY 18 (Morning.) (Per the Scotia, via Crookhaven.) No general engagement has occurred in Virginia since the 12th. The reported abandonment of Spottsylvania Court-house by General Lee is untrue. Both armies confront each other at Spottsylvania, Loe holding a strong position north of the Court house. Heavy rains have prevented farther mili tary operations. An impression gains ground that General Grant's losses are larger, and the present condition of his army less favourable than was previously supposed. Reinforcements are being hurried forward to Grant. Southern papers state that all the damage done by the Federals to Lee's comm unications has been repaired. The Confederates hate attacked General Butler before D.rury'a Bluff, in front and in rear, inflicting considerable loss, and compelling him to retire to his lice 3. The Confederates have also defeated General Sigel at Newmarket, capturing five guns. Ha retreated across the Shenandoah in good order to Strasburg, with the loss of 650 'nen. Gen. Sherman has occupied Dalton and Resaca, Gen. Johnstone retreating towards Atlanta, hotly pursued by the Federals. Two days fighting occurred at Resacs. A portion of Gen. Banks army has been compelled ,o March overland to the Mississippi River fighting .s way out. A forged proclamation was issaed this morning announcing a call by President Lincoln for 400,000 men, and declaring Grant's campaign closed. The publication of the document caused intense though temporary excitement. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money easy. Gold 82 prem. Stocks firm and advancing. New York Central, 136 i; Illinois, 1331; Erie, 1151. (FROM THE TIMES' CORRESPONDENT.) NEW YORK, MAY 17. Up to 8 a.m. on Monday there had been no fur ther engagement or movement of importance by either Grant or Lee. Lee's reported crossing of the river Pa, on Thurs day night, is contradicted—his centre and left still maintain their positions in front of Spottsylvania Courthouse. On the 13th inst. Meade announced to the Federal troops that they had captured 18 canton, 22 colours, and 8,000 prisoners; but that their work was not yet over, and exhorted them to renewed courage and fortitude. Heavy rains on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday have prevented Grant from advancing ; but it is believed that, in reality, be has been compelled to await the arrival of reinforcements. From 50,000 are asserted to have been sent. General Sheridan penetrated to the outer line of the Richmond defences, where he was attacked by Stuart's cavalry, and driven into Butler's lines at Turkey Island Bend, cm James River, with the loss of upwards of 1,000 men killed, wounded, and missing. He reports, under date the 9tb, having destroyed portions of the Fredericksburg and the Virginia Central Railways, and a large quantity of rolling stock and stores. Confederate despatches of the 11th announce that the Virginia Central Railway had been restored to running order. General Butler reports sharp skirmishing, and the occupation of some unimportant Confederate works in rear of Fort Dirling, by Baldy Smith's and Gilmore'a forces on the 11th. General Beauregard, on the 11th inst., made a detour to the west of the Petersburg and Richmond Railway, marching in the direction of Richmond, and is believed to have joined Lee. Secretary Stanton published despatches from Sherman, which state that, by a flank movement gainst Resaca, he compelled Johnston to evacuate Dalton on Friday night. An engagement between the armies of those Generals ensued on the follow. tag day, which was continued on Sunday. Sher mart admits a loss of 3,000 killed and wounded. At midnight Johnston's forces evacuated Resaca, retiring towards Romc, Sherman is reported to be pursuing, MAY 18, 11 A:m. Despatches from Grant's army, to noon yester• day, report considerable skirmishing on Monday afternoon and night. The lines of both armies re- main unchanged. Official despatches from Butler silted that on Monday, during a thick fog, the Confederates sur prised Baldy Smith's forces, and drove them from their position in great confusion and with heavy loss. The Federals subsequently rallied, and the Confederates returned to their defences. Butler was also attacked at the same time, and forced to retire to his entrenchments, near James River. The defeat of Sigel, reported on Saturday last, was premature. On Sunday he was attacked at Newmarket, in Shenandoah Valley, by Breckin• ridge, and driven to Strasburg, with loss of nearly 1,000 rcen and five cannon. The steamer Fulton, from Port Royal, reports a genera' engagement in progress between Admiral I)ahlgren's fleet and Confederate batteries in Charleston, including Sumter, on the 15th• Some of this morning's papers publish a procla mation, purporting to be issued by Pres►dent. Ling coin on the 17th inst., which, after presenting the militarysitnation in a most gloomy light, and apg pointing thet 26th inst. for fasting and prayer, con eludes by calling for 400,000 fresh troops, for whom a peremptory draught is to be made immediately after the 15th proximo, if not furnished by that time by volunteering. It was ascertained in the course of the morning that the document was a forgery. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Gold fluctuated yestbrday between 1781 and 1761 and closed 1771. It opened this morning 180, and at one time, owing to a belief in the President's pro clamation, rose as high as 184; at 11 o'clock it stands 183. Government Sizes, registered, 1881, 1141- ; five twenties, Coupons, 1061 1 ; seven thirties, 1121. New York Central Railway, 1341 ; Eries, 15/ ; Illinois Central, 133. Cotton closed yesterday, 90!; breadstuffs improve provisions dull ; sugars inactive; coffee firm. PRUSSI A. BERLIN, MAY 27. The Spenersche Zeitung of to-day says :—" We are informed that the Prussian Government will exert its utmost influence to support the candida ture of the Prince of Augnstenbarg to the throne of Schleswig-Hoistein, and the complete seplration of the Duchies from Denmark." TURIN, MAY 27. The National Bank has reduced its rate of dis count to 8 par cent. SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 27. The North German Ltoyd's steamer Bremen, sailing hence this afternoon for New York with the English, French, and German mails, takes out 189 saloon passengers, jewellery from Havre, value £7,300, and a large cargo, of which 300 tons were shipped at this port, including a large quantity of French silks. FRANCE. At the commencement of the proceedings in the Legislative Body yesterday,; Duke de Morny, the President, communicated to the Chamber, an Imperial decree extending the session to the 28th inclusively. The discussion on the Budget was re sumed, and Arts. 6 and 7 agreed to. On Art. 8 which declares that " a duty of oae centime shall be levied ou every cheque whether in the form of a receipt or an order to pay, either to the person named or any other," a discussion of some length tcok place between M. Darimon, M. La venay, Government Commissioner, the Duke de Morny, M. Rouher, Minister of Stae, M. Pouyer- Quo tier, M. Vuitry, Government Commissioner, M, Louvet, and M. Emile Olivier, the heliet appearing to be that the subject had not been sufri ciently investigated. On a division, the article was rejected by 137 votes to 107. In consequence, it was sent back to the committee for further consi deration. Articles 9 and 10, which depend on it, were also referred in the same way. The other articles to the 18th inclusively were adopted, and the discussion was again adjourned. A Coburg letter gives some details of the mar riage which lately took place i❑ that capital, of the Archduke Joseph with the Princess Clotilda of Saxe Coburg, the Archbishop of Bemberg officiat ing. In addition to the reigning Duke of Saxe- Coburg, there were present at the ceremony the Archduke Stephen of Austria, the Prince and Princess George of Saxony, Prince Alfred of Eng the D aka d' Aumale, the Prince and Princess de Joinville, the Bake de Penthievro (son of the Prince de Joinville), the Princess Margaret of Nemoure, the Princess Amelia, daughter of Prince Augustus of Size-Coburg and sister of the young bride, the Count d'Eu, son of the Duke de Nemours, and Prince Phillip of Wurtemburg. BOURSE, May 26.—The market has been heavy, and notwithstanding an E dvance in the English funds and a reduction in the rate of discount by the Bank of England, there has been no improvement in prices. Threes, for the Account, are unvaried at 66f. 80c., and Mobilier at 1,155 f. Railway Market quiet, but firm. The market closed and left off as follows : 41 per Cents .. 93 50 Do, end month.... Italian Loan 69 30 Do. end month 69 10 3 per Cents Do. end month 66 80 Ditto Threes,..... New Mexican .... Credit Mobilier, 1157 60 Do. end month 1156 25 Bank Shares 3380 Credit k oncier 1245 Roman ittleSi A.ustiian Spanih Threes., 51 50 orne Debt Deferred Turd kiin. HER MAJESTY, BALMORAL, May 24. This day is the anniversary of the QueeCs birth, when her Majesty completes her 43th Sever. The Queen went out in the morning with their Royal Highnesses the Princess Leiningen and the Princess Helena. Her Mjesty, with their Royal Highnesses the Princess L,!iningen, Princess Helena, Princess Bea trice, and Prince Leopold, drove to Birkhall, and home by Baliater. Their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise and Prince Arthur accompanied the Queen en horses back. Load Stanley of Alderley left the Castle this morning. The Duke of Argyll arrived on a rißit to the Queen. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales, attended by Major Tees dale, went to the railway station at Charing•cross, yesterday morning, to meet their ItJyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Louis of Hessee, who have Arrived on a visit to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their Royal. Highnesses the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse are attended by MAdlle. de Grancey and Captain von Westerwelier. The Prince of Walee, attended by Major Tees. dale, rode out on horseback. The Prince and Princess of Wales, with Lady Morton and M jor Teesdale in Waiting, attended Divine service at Westminster Abbey in the after noon. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse v:sited the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strclitz at St. James's-pale.ce The Prince and Piincese of Wales, accompanied by the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, and attended by Lady Morton, Madlle. de Grancey, Major Teesdale, and Captain von Westerweiler, went to the Italian Opera, Covent-garden, in the evening, Arrival of the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, Their H )yal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse arrived at Gravesend yesterday' morning, in the royal yacht Victoria and Albert, which had conveyed them from Flushing. Their royal highnesses travelled by special train on the North Kent line to London-bridge station, and thence to Charing-cross, where they were received and welcomed by the Prince of Wales (who had errived from Marlborough House to meet them), and the❑ proceeded to the town residence of his royal highness, where they will remain till they depart for Balmoral on a visit to the Queen. Their royal highnesses were attended by Madlle. de Grancey and Captain von Westerweller. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess de Chartres will give a grand ball on Monday night at their residence at Ham, to celebrate the wedding of the Count de Paris, which will take place on that day. His Royal Highness the Count de Paris 130 taken York House, adjoining the church at Twickenham (formerly rented by the late Earl of Lonedale), for a (lam of years. A large number of workmen are engaged in pre paring the house for the count's occupation. Tha Archbishop of Canterbury had a dinner party yesterday evening at Lambeth Palace. Viscountess Palmerston has issued cards of invi. tation for evening parties tomorrow, the 28th inst., and 02 the 11th of June. Lady Sondes had a musical party yesterdal evening at the family residence in Grosvenor-square. CARDINAL 'WISEMAN'S eatroordinary Pastoral ttt regard to Revelation and Thvolution, to Btshop Colenso and General Garibaldi, to Convocation and the Lord Chancellor's Judgment about Eternal Tor ments, to the Essayists and Reviewers, to the Geo' logists and Ethnologists—almost the whole of which remarkable document was given in extensoin The Sun of Monday evening—has now, we observe, been pub lished in its entirety, in the form of a pamphlet of 20 pages octavo, by the Messrs. Burns and Lambert, of Portman-square. Opening up, as it has already done, so wide a field of controversy, this Pastoral, in a form admitting thus of its preservation for the boole shelves, will be acceptable, we doubt not, far mor e widely and generally than among the Cardinal's own religionists. 8.9 IL N'Y AY,3. Cash. Account. 878 75 .. 875 990 990 870 877 50 Orlar .7 Northern Lyons and IleditGrranean _Kew ditto — • • Southern Western Eastern .... 466 25 .. 467 50 Sardinian 367 50 .. 365 Austrian Lorr.b.rd North of Spain Saragossa 555 .. 656 25 Ditto to Barcelona MARKETS—This Day, MARK-LANE. The supply of English wheat on the stands, to-day was very moderate, but the greater portion was received in good condition. The trade, however, was by no means active, yet Monday's prices were well supported. The suppty of foreign wheat on the stands was moderate Sales in most descriptions progressed slowly, at previous quotations. _ _ Floating cargoes of grain were steady in price. The market was seasonably well supplied with barley, and the b irley trade ruled quiet, at late rates. For malt there was a fair inquiry, at Monday's currency. The supply of oats on sale was tolerably large. Most qualities were in average request at late rates. Beans and peas moved oft steadily, at full quotations. The flour trade was steady, and prices ruled firm. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flout, English...— 580 9) I 2,280 3) ; 2,090 Irish.. Poreig,ll 13,140 5,560 1 14,.80 I 110 eke 435, brls. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. But moderate supplies of meat are on sale at these mar kets, and the trade rules firm, at very full prices. Per Sib. by the carcase. s a 03 a sdsd [nferior beef .. 3 0 3 4 Middlingmutton 4 2 4 8 Nliddling do. .. 3 6 3 10 Prime do 4 10 5 0 Frime large do. 4 0 4 2 Veal Do. small do. .. 4 2 4 4 Small pork Large pork .... 323 10 Lamb .... 58 6 8 Inferior mutton. 3 6 4 0 BOROUGH HOP. Our market is but moderately supplied with English and foreign hops. For good and fide qualities there is a steady demand, at full prices. Otherwise, the trade continues dull, at about previous rates. Mid and East Keats £5 Os to £9 lOs per cwt. Weald of Dents 6 Os to 7 7s 1) Sussex Yearlings 3 Os to 5 Os ~ Bavarian Belgian American COLONIAL. TEA.—The market has been very quiet. Good shipping congou is quoted 12d per lb. SU GAR,—A moderate amount of business has been done in the private market, &Ind West India descriptions have fully sustained forin3r rates. In the refined market there is little change of importance to record. COFFEE —The operations in colonial descriptions have been limited. Prices, however, are genelaDy well bus _ tained. R IC E.—The markct, continues very dull, and the few bargains entered into have been at about previous rates. TALLOW,—Bminess has continued very inactive for both present and forward delivery. P. Y.C., on the spot, is quoted 39s 9d 40s; June delivery, 40a Gd; and last three months, 43s Gd per cwt. SOCIETY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE FINE ARTS.—Last evening, Mr Justice M'Carthy de livered a lecture " Oa Moliere and French Comedy," hav ing peculiar regard to the life and character of the great French dramatist, and the manners of the time in which he lived. Commencing by imitating Plautus, Molire after wards took for his materials the foibles of society in "Les Fr6cieuses Ridicules," and the wore serious and crying evil of the age in " Tartuffe," passing in review "Le Misanthrope," La Malade Imaginaire," and other produc tions by this great dramatist. The lecturer pronounced him to be entitled to the highest rank, and not only as a satirist and humorist, but also as a moralist, amongq all writers of his own or any other age. To the Editor of the Sun, Stu,—The letter in your impression of Monday, cow' paring the expense of the Customs Establishment with that of the Inland Revenue, contains an error which destroys the argument. The paragraph commencing "This difference in the pense of the two establishments arises from the supertor scale of payment awarded to the clerks in the Custoul house," &c., should read inferior scale. Dusting you will insert this in your next, I remain your s obediently ECRU TATO , . May 26, 1864. The Volunteer Review. We are requested to state that no one will be allowed to enter the enclosure that will be railed otf in Hyde.park on the occasion of the Volunteer Review, except cfficers in uniform and person s provided with tickets. Officers in uniform will not have the privilege (4 bringing with them friends who are not provided with tickete. Tickets will be distributed by the officers cot e mending the Volunteer corps which are to be re' viewed, and will also be sent to members of both Houses of Parliament, and to Public Departments' We are also requested to state that the perrniesi °3 given in the General Order, dated May 25, to he r Majesty's lieutenants of counties to enter the eh' closure in Hyde-park, does not extend to &parr lieutenants. THE SCOTCH MOORS.—The keepers through' out the whole of Selkirkshire consider the pre Bt ' llS to be the most successful hatching season they h ave had for many years, and report most favourably for the proP peas of sportsmen. On the exsensive mo orlands Ettrick and Yarrow scarcely a shot has beeel fired N t the last two seasons, and except on the v, ry big h rang e : the show of grouse and black game is this year eirpea!e' to be little short of what it was previous to the great mortality among the birds in the spring of 1862. young grouse are now running in broods of from seven to ten birds, and black game are sitting plentifully on nes L containing from eight to ten eggs. On the low geo unu ' pheasants have been hatched successfully ; and, ju d g i4 from the stock of old birds, partridges, which are new 41 : ing their eggs, are expected to be numerous. Leve re : are even now very abundant. An experienced °,l intelligent keeper, however, says that he has suffa'e" to an :unusual extent forom the robberies of the 6 ° , 133 ; talon crows. They are found to destroy the whole ere a , few minutes ; but, so far as his observe , ions '' in the nests of pheasants and black Lame in Twit el the courage of the grouse often saves them from the ravagm of the intruders. He further observes that it is chieni clear, warm weather that the rooks are destructive, alloi have exten-6CIP assigns as a reason for this that when there is Plo atY li f, moisture they are kept from sucking eggs by finding a ficiency of grubs.--Scotsman. " HONI SOIT QUI MAI, Y PENSE" w hisper s Tithes Reviewer of the " Diary of the Lad 9 d .,• o o Quality," when quoting the following scene fromge Wynn's pages On Tuesday, at half-past 2 eer- L ' o f King died, and in a very short lime the A r chbishq tit Canterbury and Lord Canynham, the Chamterlain, set4ei to anneunce the event to their young' ".'overeigni rlhoy rea ched Kensington Palace at aleiut 5; they knocked, t'e,„ rang, they thumped for a considerable time before tlipdt could rouse the porter at the gates; they were eg aill , waiting in the courtyard, they turned into one of the L",vi rooms, where they seemed forgotten by everybody rang the bell, desired that the attendant of the Pr ai l,,,t Victoria might be sent to inform her Royal Highn e " ot ber they requested an audience of importance; after an to . delay, and another ringing to inquire the cause, the a t s is dant was summoned, who stated that the Ptincess such a sweet bleep she could not venture to disturb ,74 Then they said We are come to the Queen on bueinrdit;'; State, and even her sleep must give way to that.' I 0 fevi and to prove that she did not keep them within;', r ow e minutes she came into the room in a loos e white nix 1,4 and shawl, her nightcap thrown off , a nd her hair upon her sbeulders, her feet in slippers, tears in hor a but perfectly collected and dignified.''.